Guilty plea in woman’s slaying

A West Seattle man accused of killing a woman following a chance argument has pleaded guilty to murder.

Entering the plea Friday, Anthony Haroldlee Smith admitted to killing Sweetheart Marie Failautusi in the early hours of Aug. 16 on a White Center street.

At 12:20 a.m., Failautusi and three other women were waiting at a bus stop near Southwest Roxbury Street and 15th Avenue Southwest when Smith and two other men approached them.

One of the men asked for a cigarette, prompting an argument that turned into a brawl after Failautusi tried to punch Smith, a King County detective told the court. A gun dropped from Smith’s waistband, but was recovered by one of his associates; the three men then fled.

“I’ll be right back,” Smith said to Failautusi, according to police reports. “It’s not over.”

Deputies responded to the scene and spoke with Failautusi and another woman. Police had left when, 30 minutes after the argument, Smith and the other two men returned.

According to charging documents, one of the other men approached Failautusi and shook her hand. As he did, Smith allegedly charged forward, pulled a pistol and began yelling at Failautusi.

“What (expletive)” he said, according to court papers. “I told you I was coming back.”

As Failautusi and her friends were backing away, Smith fired on the women. Failautusi was shot in the back of the head and died at the scene.

Identified from surveillance video taken at nearby businesses, Smith was arrested at his West Seattle home. Two of Failautusi’s friends identified him as the shooter.

A week before the shooting, Smith had been sentenced to 15 days on a county work crew after pleading guilty to drug possession. Previously convicted of felony theft, Seattle police arrested the man in August 2010 and found he had a vial of PCP.

Smith has been jailed since his arrest and is now charged with second-degree murder. He faces 11 to 19 ½ years in prison at sentencing on March 23 before King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu. Prosecutors are expected to request a 15-year prison term.